BLOG ASSIGNMENT #4 Song Deconstruction

STEP ONE
Create a link on your blog to two songs that can be found online -- YouTube (or a similar
site).  You may choose either:
• Two songs from the same artist
• One original song and one cover of that song
• Two songs from two completely different musical genres

STEP TWO
Listen to each song a few times and fill out a Listening Framework sheet for
each song.  Post these sheets to your blog.

STEP THREE
Based on your Listening Framework, write an essay (350-400 words) comparing and
contrasting the songs.  Utilize the vocabulary words from lecture and from the Listening
Framework sheets:
1.  Lyrics
2.  Melody
3.  Musical Quality (Rhythm, Intensity, Pitch, Timbre, Speed, Organization)
Conclude the essay by discussing which version of the song you like better, and an
explanation of why.

Grading Criteria
-- Linked to two songs meeting the criteria [5 points]
-- Completed a Listening Framework sheet for each song [5 points each x2]
-- Compared and contrasted the songs using vocabulary from lecture and LF sheets [10 points]
-- Written elements did not meet length requirements  [-15 points]

Assignment: Project #5 MUSIC/SONG

Two-person teams will create two different (yet similar) pieces of original Music (two minutes each) in Garageband. Teams should conceive of the songs together, but each person is responsible for creating one song on their own. Both songs should be considered as “thematic music” for one of the video games designed in Project Two. You must present your work in the form of a five-minute Powerpoint presentation.

First: Create two 2-3-minute songs. To create these songs, consider the lecture on Listening Framework. Your two songs must:

A) Choose ONE Listening Phase that will be IDENTICAL between the two songs
(Rhythm, Arrangement or Sound Quality)
B) Choose ONE Listening Phase that will be DIFFERENT between the two songs
C) Do not discuss what you will do with the third Listening Phase; just let it happen
So, for instance: you might choose IDENTICAL Time & Tempo with your songs,
but use completely DIFFERENT Instrumentation and Emotional Architecture.
D) Minimum of four different instruments and tracks

Second: Prepare a 3-minute presentation (timed, in powerpoint) explaining:

A) Which Listening Phase you chose to be identical.
B) Which Listening Phase you chose to be different.
C) Whether the third Listening Phase turned out to be similar or divergent (and why)
D) One musical element that each composer focused on the MOST while creating their
song (e.g. -- Rhythm, Intensity, Pitch, Timbre, Speed, Shape, etc.)
E) Why these songs work as Thematic Music for one of the video games from Project #2

Finally: Give your presentation BEFORE you play your songs. You may play your songs over a blank Powerpoint slide, or you may choose ONE character image from Project #1 to use as a backdrop.

In class Assignment: Week 4

Make two audio projects: 


1) Download a 10-second SFX and manipulate it/add an effect, 
2) Create a 30-second music loop and add an additional instrument. Export both files.


Import both of audio files and three photos from internet into a 3 slide powerpoint project. Put a photo on an each of the three slides. Make the music play over the first two slides and the SFX play over the third slide. Each slide should be a different duration of time 

Accessing the Centralized Sound Effects Library

Mac OS X

1.     In Finder, select Go -> Connect to Server…

2.     In the Server Address, type:

smb://shared.ohio.edu/communication/SoundFX

3.     Click Connect

4.     It will likely prompt you for your username and password.

a.     Your username is your oakid

b.     Your password is your oak password

c.      These login credentials are the same as what you use to check your email or access other university services

5.     A new volume will be mounted called SoundFX.  It should look like:

6.     When you are done with your work, you can un-mount the volume

7.     If you have any problems access the sound effects library, contactchilcotr@ohio.edu

Accessing the Centralized

Sound Effects Library

Web Based (faculty/staff only)

1.     In any web browser, navigate to https://sslvpn.oit.ohio.edu/

2.     Login with your oakid and oak password

3.     You are now logged into the OIT SSL VPN.  Once in, click on ‘Shared Drives’

4.     Then navigate to ‘communication’

5.     Then click on ‘SoundFX’

6.     You can now download and navigate the library.

Accessing the Centralized

Sound Effects Library

Windows

1.     Click Start and then click Run

2.     Connect to the Sound Effects Library

a.     Windows XP

In the run dialog, type:\\shared.ohio.edu\communication\SoundFX

b.     Windows Vista/7

In the dialog, type:\\shared.ohio.edu\communication\SoundFX

3.     Click run or go

4.     It will likely prompt you for your username and password, if not, skip to the next step.

a.     Your username is your oakid

b.     Your password is your oak password

c.      These login credentials are the same as what you use to check your email or access other university services

5.     A new window will show the Sound Effects folder

6.     When you are done with your work, you can un-mount the volume

7.     If you have any problems access the sound effects library, contactchilcotr@ohio.edu

Project #4 SOUNDSCAPE

As part of a two-person team, you will record the dialogue from one of the 2-3 minute scripts written for Project Three. After you have recorded the dialogue, you will create an entire soundscape (sound design) for the scene. For this project, you will be provided with an extensive Sound Effects Library. You should combine and manipulate sound effects in order to elicit a specific emotion from the audience.

Teams will present these soundscapes in lab. Following the presentation, each team will present a 3-minute Powerpoint explaining their creative process.

All of the sounds you use must come from a sound effects library and must be manipulated.

First: Present your 2-3 minute soundscape/visual presentation to the class, (but DON’T tell the class the emotion that you are trying to elicit). The Soundscape must have the following items:

A) Utilization of TWO of the three listening modes: Casual, Semantic or Referential 

B) Aural exploration of Space: Deep, Limited, Flat or Ambiguous Space; 

C) Contrast or Affinity of your Visual Space with your Aural Space 

D) Aural recreation of Space by using: Size, Distance, Movement and/or Directionality; 

E) Manipulation TWO sound qualities: Speed, Loudness, Timbre and/or Pitch

F) Use of: Habituation, Recognition, Directionality or Gestalt Principal to affect emotion 

G) Minimum of three layers of sound

Second: Prepare a 3-minute presentation (timed, in powerpoint) explaining:

A) Which TWO listening modes you utilized: Casual, Semantic or Referential 

B) How you explored Space aurally: Deep, Limited, Flat or Ambiguous Space; 

C) Two examples where you used Contrast and/or Affinity of Visual and Aural Spaces 

D) How you created a sense of Space using: Size, Distance, Movement or Directionality; 

E) How you manipulated: Speed, Loudness, Timbre and/or Pitch 

F) How you used Habituation, Recognition, Directionality or the Gestalt Principal

Finally: The last slide of your presentation should be the EMOTION you chose to manipulate. Before you show the emotion, see if the audience can guess the emotion.

Assignment: Project #3 SCRIPTING A SCENE

Script format can be downloaded from the Blackboard.

Individuals will take a scene from their Game Design Project and write a 2-3-minute
scene based upon the characters and the actions from their proposed game. The script
must be properly formatted and include both sound and visual cues. The scripts should
allude to the characters’ Motivations, Objectives, Intentions and Urgency. The scripts will
be turned in at the beginning of lab of Week Three.

BLOG ASSIGNMENT #3 Reflections on Sound Design

STEP ONE

Find, or post, a scene from a movie on YouTube (or a similar site). Make sure the scene has strong (and interesting) sound design characteristics. Create a link on your blog to the clip.

STEP TWO

Transcribe the scene into script format, making sure to include not only the dialogue, but the sound elements as well. Use proper script format and don’t over-describe!

Write the scene using a screenwriting template, save it as a JPG, and then post it as a photo on your blog.

STEP THREE

Write a brief critique of the scene (200-250 words):

• discussing two topics from the following list, as they pertain to the scene; 
• using two of the supplied vocabulary words/phrases from each topic:

1. Listening Modes

- Casual 

- Semantic 

- Referential

3. Space

- Size, Distance, Perception 

- Directionality 

- Subjective/Emotional 

- Movement

2. Gestalt Principals and Illusion

- Figure and Ground 

- Proximity and Similarity 

- Illusion

4. Time

- Speed and Loudness 

- Subjective Time 

- Recognition 

- Habituation

- Tonal Center

Grading Criteria

-- Linked to a scene with strong sound design elements [5 points]

-- Transcribe the scene into proper script format, including dialogue and sound elements-[10 points]

-- Critiqued the scene discussing two of the required topics.

And correctly used two vocab words/phrases for each topic.[5 points each x 2]

-- Did not meet length requirements (too long or too short) [-10 pts]

Assignment: Project #2 GAME DESIGN

Due: In lab Week 3. Late assignments will not be accepted.

This is group assignment. You will be part of a four-person team. Each team will design
a video game idea that involves multiple decision points, an interface design, and a
scoring system. The game must have specific goals and rules; it must incorporate
characters designed in Project One, and must employs visual cues (e.g. line, shape,
etc.) to guide the audience toward a specific goal. The idea will be presented in the form
of a 15-minute Powerpoint.
First: Decide whether you are designing a Game of: Skill, Chance or Strategy

Second: As a team, determine the Game’s:
A) Goals B) Mechanics C) Objectives D) Rules

Third: Design a 15-minute Powerpoint presentation that uses a Flow Chart in some way to:
A) Explain the Goals/Mechanics/Objectives/Rules
Then: choose THREE of the following FOUR elements:
B) Demonstrate some In-game Visuals and how they influence the Game’s Objectives
C) Provide examples of how characters inspire Gaming Goals
D) Explains the Interface & Console Design and how they relate to the Game Mechanics
E) Discuss whether or not Guided Perception is used in your game (and why/why not)

Finally: Present your idea as if you were selling it to investors, rather than for a class grade
and Explain why the game would actually be fun to play

BLOG ASSIGNMENT # 2

 Finding Your Howl

Create a link on your blog to  http://changethis.com/manifesto/show/51.01.YourHowl so that your audience can read

Johathon Flaum’s FIND YOUR HOWL.

Within the article, Flaum references two different stories. Briefly summarize (100 words

or less) one of the stories for your audience and explain the main point that Flaum makes

with that particular story.

Then… share your own favorite quote, poem, lyric, paragraph or story and then explain

in essay form why this quote speaks to you as a creative person. Essay should be

approximately 500-750 words, not including the work that you cite.

-- A summary of one aspect of J. Flaum’s article [7 points]

-- A presentation and explanation of a meaningful “Howl” [8 points]

Grading Criteria

-- Accurately summarized of one aspect of J. Flaum’s article [9 points]

-- Presentation and explanation of a meaningful “Howl” [16 points]

-- Did not meet length requirements (too long or too short) [-12 pts each]

http://changethis.com/manifesto/show/51.01.YourHowl

Assignment: Project # 1 CHARACTER DESIGN

Two-person teams will create and draw two characters -- one a Hero, the other a Villain.
Both characters should “live” in the same story/world and genre; and each should have
their own unique characteristics.  Each person in the team will be responsible for ONE of
the characters.  Each character must demonstrate personality, emotion and motivation
through the use of color, shape and light.  Teams must present their work in the form of
a 5-minute Powerpoint explaining their creative process. Students will have separate grades.

First:  Create/draw two characters: one Hero and one Villain.  The Character Drawings must
contain the following:
A) Utilize TWO elements of color:  Hue, Brightness or Saturation to create emotion
B) Utilize light/shadow to create either Symbolism or Mood related to the character;
C) Include visual details that place the character into a specific genre
D) Include visual details that illuminate the character’s Motivation
E) Contrast of Color, Shape and Lighting to differentiate the Hero from the Villain

Finally: Prepare a 5-minute Powerpoint presentation that a) introduces your character drawings
to the audience, and b) explains how you used color, shape and light to differentiate the
characters from each other.

BLOG ASSIGNMENT #1 Create blog profile

You will create and maintain a blog during the semester on the website Blogger.  This blog
should be a reflection of the online personality you want to display to the world.  Hopefully,
the blog is something you will want to continue after the completion of this course.
Therefore, you will write a plan for your blog that you will create during the first lab session.
Tell me what you want to name your blog and why; the elements you plan to include in your
blog and profile, the design of your blog, visual elements, and what you want your blog to
say about you.  This blog is also where you will post your blog assignments.  You will be
assigned a blog assignment almost every week (see schedule) and write a total of 6 blogs.  I
will grade the blogs in groups of three.  The first three blogs will be due at the end of week 4,
and the last three blogs will be due at the end of week 9.